About Gowling WLG

We have more than 1,400 legal professionals working around the world. Our offices span across 19 cities in Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East. There's strength in our global presence, we embrace our differing cultures and work together as one team. We also understand the importance of investing in relationships that build knowledge and trust, while we provide legal advice that's tailored to our clients' world.

'Our people and distinct culture are what makes us different. We know this through client and employee feedback and this drives everything we do'' Chris Oglethorpe, HR Director.

There are great opportunities for all our people to flourish. Through training and personal development they can grow in their role. Our people are the cornerstone of our success, across legal, business support and early talent. We care about their happiness and believe in the power of teamwork.

We want them to feel empowered and recognise that by supporting, respecting and embracing everyone's different contributions we achieve more.

Working flexibly, working fairly

Agile working offers people more freedom and flexibility in where, when, and how they work. As technology advances and our workforce becomes more diverse, and with clients often working to a 24/7 rhythm, having extra flexibility is key to helping us balance work and other commitments sensibly and productively.

By supporting people to choose where and when they get their work done, we help them to make a full and fair contribution to their team, while maintaining that all important work-life balance.

Where possible and depending on business needs, we will consider all flexible working options such as part-time working, job sharing, working from home and staggered hours.

If in considering a role with Gowling WLG you favour flexibility in your working arrangements, please discuss this with the recruitment team in the early stages of the application process. 

Main purpose of the role:    

To provide employment law advice as appropriate at a junior level, working with the support of the rest of the team across London and Birmingham.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To take responsibility as MFE for matters where day to day running by a junior lawyer is appropriate – e.g. straightforward tribunal claims; review of handbook/contract/policy; written and telephone advice on straightforward operational ER queries;
• To work with the employment partners, director and associates on contentious and non-contentious matters where they are MFE but there are tasks which are appropriate to delegate to a junior lawyer, e.g. producing first draft risk assessments; first draft TUPE warranties; research; and draft advice.
• To participate in and contribute to all training run by the team internally within the firm;
• To deliver training to clients and targets externally as part of a wider team;
• To participate in pitching for work as part of formal pitch processes, e.g. by contributing to the pitch documentation or being part of the team presenting at the pitch;
• To participate and contribute to the team’s BD activity as appropriate for a junior lawyer;
• To support the team’s Excellence activities by sharing knowhow and learning;
• To ensure all matters for which he/she is MFE are SRA compliant.
• Any other reasonable duties delegated by any Partner, Senior Manager or Group Support Manager of the firm.

Qualifications

Key Skills and Experience: 

• A thorough technical grounding in a good range of employment law issues (albeit we wouldn’t expect the person to have come across everything, given the level of experience we are looking at) e.g. drafting and negotiating compromise agreements; handling straightforward tribunal claims and supporting on more complex ones; advising on ER issues; transactional support – due diligence, drafting and negotiating warranties and indemnities;
• Excellent analytical skills and an ability to focus on the key issues;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including listening;
• Proven relationship building skills;
• A demonstrable ability to see things from a number of perspectives, including primarily the client’s commercial perspective;
• A willingness to learn and take responsibility for their own development and to support others to do the same; and 
• Flexibility in approach.

Equal Opportunities:

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment.  The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity.  This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work.  Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.